Supports for material in roll form



Sept. 8, 1959 5. J. GRALEWICZ 2,903,199

SUPPORTS FOR MATERIAL IN ROLL FORM Filed Dec. 10, 1956 A INVENTOR.

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United States Patent cc SUPPGRTS FOR MATERIAL IN ROLL FORM Sigmund J. Gr'z'ile'wicz, Milwaukee, Wis.

Appiication December 10,- 1956 Si'iaP No. 62?,346

' 4' Claims. (C1. 24245.2

This invention relates to improvements in roll holders, and it is suitable for supporting rolls of various kinds of materials but is shown, for the purpose of illustration, in connection with a roll of toilet paper. The invention comprises generally a spindle for the support of a paper roll, the spindle being in the form of a resilient member such as a coil spring having the necessary stiffness, one end of the spring being permanently but removably secured to a fixed support, such as a wall or bracket. The :other end of the spindle remains free and may be flexed or bent outwardly for the application of a roll of toilet paper thereto, and upon release of the free end of the spindle, it returns to its original position, supporting the roll for convenient use. There is no necessity for supporting the spindle at both ends as in conventional roll supports. This invention is a continuation-in-part of my pending application Serial No. 598,337.

An object of the present invention is to provide such a roll support which may be attached to conventional roll supporting brackets without the use of independent fastening means.

Further objects are to provide such a roll support which is economical and easy to manufacture, which is attractive in appearance, and which is durable and efficient in use, requiring no tools or fastening means for its application to a bracket, conventional or otherwise.

For a more comprehensive description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing and specification wherein several embodiments are illustrated and described in greater detail.

In the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a roll holder of this invention embodied in a conventional wall receptacle for toilet paper.

Figure 2 is a substantially similar view showing the holder flexed out of normal position so that a roll of paper may be applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of an alternative form of bracket in which the holder may be used.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an accessory device for use with the roll holder in certain applications.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the use of said accessory device in connection with a bracket such as shown in Figure 1.

The invention comprises a stiff, compact and closely coiled spring 10 which has a central portion 11 the coils 10f which are of substantially uniform diameter, portions 12, the coils of which are tapered outwardly from the central portion, one of these tapered portions terminating in an end portion 13, which is also of substantially uniform diameter, but reduced substantially from the size of the diameter of the central portion 11. The end portion 13 is of an external diameter substantially equal to that of the conventional dowel spindle which usually supports a roll of toilet paper between the arms A of a wall fixture B, and one of these end portions 13 may [be screwed into the socket C of one of said arms A, the

2 coils of the spring functioning in the manner of the threads of a screw. The bore of the socket C may be grooved, if desired, in the manner of a nut to receive the coils 13, or it may be left plain. In either event, the spring. coils 13 will firmly grip the bore frictionally and lock itself in place. After it has been so applied, as in Figure 1, the free end of the spring may be flexed out wardly as shown in Figure 2 by a pull of a finger, and a roll of toilet paper may be slipped over it. The spring may then be released and it will return to its original position as shown in Figure 1, carrying the roll of paper into position for use. The reduced end portion 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, concentric with the main body portion 11.

It will be noted that one end of the member 10 is left tapered at 12. If a bracket is encountered which has a hole or socket too large to receive the end 13 with a screw or friction fit, the tapered free end 12 may be inserted, and having a variable diameter, it will grip and hold in a larger hole or socket. This reversal of the position of the holder is shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 4 a modified form of bracket is shown. This comprises a U-shaped member having a base 15 and similar legs 15a. The base member is provided with countersunk holes 15b by means of which it may be attached to a supporting surface, such as a wall, by screws. One of the legs 1511 has a hole 16 for the reception of the tapered coiled end 12 of the member 10, the coils here also functioning in the manner of a screw and being firmly locked in said hole 16.

In Figures 5 and 6 an accessory clamping device 17 is shown which may be used with the spring in a situation where the available supporting arms of the wall bracket are not provided with a hole at all, or the hole provided is of a size which will not accommodate either end of the coiled supporting member 10. This accessory is also a U-shaped bracket, but with the space between the legs thereof shorter than the length of said legs so as to provide a relatively narrow bracket or clamp of a width which may easily and freely straddle the end of one of the arms A as shown in Figure 6. One leg of this bracket has a hole 18, adjacent its free end.

Where the arm A has a hole or socket which will not accommodate either end of the coiled support 10, or has no hole or socket at all, this clamp or bracket 17 may be slipped over the end of one arm A, as shown in Figure 6, with the hole 18 disposed on the side between said arms A. The distance between the legs of the clamp is slightly greater than the thickness of the arm A. Either end of the coiled member 10 may then be screwed into the hole 18, but the end 13 is preferably used, as it will penetrate farther into said hole and abut against the inside wall of the arm A, pulling the clamp to the right so that the leg 17a thereof is pulled closely and tightly against the outside wall of the arm A, and the leg 17b will be slightly spaced therefrom and under tension, as shown in Figure 6, thereby firmly locking the assembly in place on the arm of the wall receptacle.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, changes in the construction and design may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting material dispensable in roll form comprising a bracket having spaced arms, a clamp member having legs straddling one of said arms, one of said legs having a hole therein, a resilient member disposed between said arms and having one end frictionally gripped in said hole, with a portion projecting through said hole, said projecting portion engaging the adjacent wall of said one of said arms and exerting a force against said clamp to pull it tightly against said arm.

e 2. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient member is a coiled spring, the coils functioning as a screw in the hole of said clamp.

3. A device for supporting material dispensable in roll form comprising a clamp member adapted for attachment to an arm of a supporting bracket, said clamp member having legs adapted no straddle said'arm, one of said legs having a hole therein, a resilient supporting member associated with said clamp member and having one end frictionally gripped in said hole, with a portion projecting through said hole, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the adjacent wall of said arm when attached thereto and being adapted to exert a force against said clamp to pull it tightly against said arm when said resilient member is urged against said arm.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which the clamp member is U-shaped.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,788 Schief Sept. 15, 1908 1,462,925 Wilburger July 24, 1923 2,121,676 Adamson June 21, 1938 2,648,501 Novotny Aug. 11, 1953 2,707,595 Brown May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 154,842 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1920 232,460 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1925 517,899 Great Britain -2 Feb. 12, 1940 

